Voter Registration Does Not (Have To) Matter

The voter registration in Massachusetts certainly appears daunting. With a three-to-one Democratic spread, and a whole bunch of independents going either way (usually to the left), and an ultimate low of 10% registered Republicans, the Massachusetts GOP has more than its work cut out for taking back Beacon Hill.

Or does it?

The year 2010 was a watershed year, certainly, with a special election to replace the recently-deceased Ted “Chappaquiddick” Kennedy. Despite the three-to-one Dem slant, state senator Scott Brown (R-Wrentham) worked hard, campaigned throughout the state, and took the election from a double-digit deficit to a five-point win over Martha “Red Sox: Who are they?” Coakley.

Throughout the country from 2010 to now, Dems were on the run. McDonnell won the Virginia Governor’s race, and US Attorney Chris Christie won in New Jersey.

Conservative columnist George Will displaced former House Speaker Tip (Me Over) O’Neill’s assertion that all politics is local. With the advent of Obamacare, and the growing backlash from the states in 2010 and 2012, Republicans dominated state legislatures, even winning Dem seats in usually strongholds throughout the South. I still remember reading about the Alabama Democratic Party on life-support, as four members of the Cotton State Democratic delegation bolted for the GOP.

And of course, the Election Day shellacking of 2010 cannot be forgotten, which still represents the House of Representatives in spite of the National GOP’s botched efforts.

And in my state, Republicans are punching back to win in Dem strongholds.

The Central Valley is all dried up, because of liberal, statist supermajority Democratic posturing. All the pandering for a smelt has sent the Central Valley up the river. In comes cherry farmer Andy Vidak (R-Hanford), a generational name in the region, well-known among the salt of the earth and the agricultural interests. Following a 2013 special election to fill in a two-to-one Democratic seat, Vidak carried the primary and the general election by six points. Yeehaw!

Two more special elections, one in the Pomona region, and another in the West Valley of Los Angeles, forced Democratic operatives to outspend the conservative/Republican opposition ten-to-one, and yet the liberal candidates only eked out wins by a few hundred votes. Frustrating at first for the GOP, these near-victories exposed a weakened Democratic brand, one in which registered Dem and liberal voters were more than happy to throw their support to the Republican. I should know. I made calls over the past few weekends into the West Valley region, where Democrats and liberal-leaning independents declared their support for the fiscally conservative (and pro-Second Amendment) Republican.

Then the waves really started rising for the California GOP. Back to 2013, Democratic Mayor Bob Filner of San Diego resigned in disgrace following eighteen allegations of sexual misconduct against female coworkers in the city. Another special election ensued, and Republican Councilmember Kevin Faulconer stepped up, winning the top vote in the primary, and then the final February run-off by nine points in a 13 point Dem advantage city. Further study proved that Faulconer had cross-over appeal not just with Independents but also registered Democrats, all of whom were still smarting over the painful costs and unseemly cuts brought on the city because of prior public sector union demands.

By the way, Democrats poured millions into the San Diego special election, and lots of foot power from the unions, and the Republican candidate still won! Voters in California are tired of collective bargaining lobbyists tying up the statehouse. Two pension reform initiatives already passed by 70% margins in very liberal San Jose as well as moderate San Diego.

The reform momentum favored Faulconer, and can favor the state GOP in November. Democrats will be putting out fires all over California, as Democrats as well as Republicans are retiring from office. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) has widened the Dem Civil War between identity politicians and public sector union puppets. A primary challenge from the left is hitting confirmed liberal Mike Honda (D-Sunnyvale), and Republicans are prepping to recover ground inadvertently lost in 2012.

How does any of this help the Massachusetts GOP? Simple enough. The national outrage over Obamacare, gun grabbing, and wasteful spending, along with NSA spying and the failed rollout not just of Obamacare Care but Common Core can give Republicans all over plenty of ammo to fight back and take the high ground again. Registered Democrats have already voted for Republicans who represent their interests rather than the special interests. The same can happen in the Bay State, too.